Events Committee:
Wednesday, August 1st, 9:30-10am in the Windhorse community room.The Events Committee plans Windhorse community events and groups. Clients, staff, and community members are welcome to attend and share their ideas. The committee meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 9:30 to 10am.

Community Lunch:
Tuesday, August 14th, 12:30-1:30pm at the Windhorse office.This is an opportunity to meet and socialize with others in the Windhorse community while enjoying lunch. All are welcome to come for the whole hour or just stop by for a visit. Please feel free to bring your own lunch or contribute something yummy for the group.

Community Education:
Wednesday, August 8th, 9-11am with an optional guided meditation 9-9:30am.Join the Windhorse staff during their monthly discussions and trainings on topics relating to the work of Windhorse. Open to the entire Windhorse community. 2nd Wednesday of the month, 9:30-11am. You are also welcome to attend the 30-minute guided meditation from 9-9:30am.

Board Updates:
The next Board & Finance Committee meeting will be Tuesday, August 14th from 12-1:30pm EST. The Board will also be participating in a retreat in Portland, OR on September 14-16th.

Development Corner:
Small Moments Plus Trust Add Up to Lasting Positive Change

Dear Windhorse Friends,

As I mentioned previously in this section of Currents, this year is our 25th Anniversary. As a continuation of this anniversary theme we are collecting and printing personal Windhorse experiences.

This month, Jeremy Foster, a Personal Care Attendant and former client of Windhorse Northampton had this to say about his experience receiving services here:

“Having a whole group of people supporting me in a non-judgmental, attentive way at Windhorse allowed me to slowly sort out my path towards growth at this stage in my life. It also provided me with experiences, reflections, and patterns that strengthened my abilities to observe myself and care for myself even after the experience with the Team ended. I can’t point to an exact series of moments, conversations, or thoughts that allowed me to develop those skills over time but little moments flash into my mind that are at least small examples of the greater whole. Most of them are really simple things. I remember once having my Team Leader arrive for a shift and I was totally out of it, half lost in depression and mind-numbing anxiety, half exhausted from working on my issues in therapy as well as from working to maintain the random practicalities that make up adult existence. They didn’t push me or run in to fix the state I was in; they just offered to do the dishes, and something about those really simple, small acts, devoid of any “shoulds” or grander subtext, settled into me over time. They reinforced everything that I was working on truly believing and trusting in; that I truly was okay, that I was a decent human being, that the sadness and inaction that consumed me over the years didn’t define me as a person, and that the little random acts in life add up. It was around that time in my life that I actually started to believe that positive change was possible, which is a very powerful thing. I am not saying that any one moment truly changed me or how I viewed the world, but the small moments certainly link up and that one link still brings a tear to my eye.”

I am deeply grateful for Jeremy’s comments. We invite you as well to take a moment to share a memory that distills your Windhorse experience. You are welcome to e-mail, mail, or call directly. If I am not available by phone, feel free to leave a message or a good time for me to return your call. You are welcome to be quoted anonymously if you wish. Anonymous comments are highly valuable as well. I look forward to hearing from you.

Things To Do: Swimming Spots (and Sweet Treats)

We’ve had some hot hot hot days in the recent past, and in New England those temperatures can be hard to escape as many of our old buildings aren’t equipped with central air or multiple air conditioning units. So how can one stay cool? Swimming! It’s an excellent way to spend a surface-of-the-sun-type of day as it’s both refreshing and a source of exercise (so that you can hopefully sleep more soundly through the warm night). There are a number of Windhorse staff members who are avid outdoor swimmers and so we’ve queried them for recommendations, and here’s what we’ve come up with so far:

Chapel Brook in Ashfield. Please note that this website mostly describes a hike, but the swimming spot is easily walkable from the road. That said, the water is quite cold in this spot so you might enjoy going for a hike first, and then a swim to cool off.

And after a few hours of swimming, there’s nothing better than rewarding yourself with an ice cream cone from one of our local ice cream stands/shops. Need some suggestions of where to go? Check out our post from last July, which you can find here.

If swimming and ice cream aren’t up your alley, or if you’ve already done them and need something else to do, then check out The Daily Hampshire Gazette’s Summer Guide 2018. It’s loaded with tons of ideas, from activities to do on a rainy day (rock climbing, anyone?) to a calendar of events taking place in the Valley in July and August.

Do You Need More Water?

It’s important to keep up with your body’s water requirements on any given day, but it’s even more important during the summer months when the air is humid and temperatures can reach into the 90’s. With this in mind, here are a few links that may aid you in your goal to drink more water each day. They cover everything from how much water to drink, how and where to get it from other sources like foods, and ways to get creative about training yourself to drink more water.

Recipes: Pizza Proposals

July, August, and September provide the Valley with the largest selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables of the year. So what can one do with all of this produce goodness? Many things, no doubt, but we have pizza in mind. Pizza can be very simple to make — especially if you buy a pre-made dough or crust and some pizza sauce — and it is generally a crowd pleaser, good for potlucks, parties, get togethers, as well as quiet nights in (with leftovers for another day or two). We encourage you to experiment with some pizza recipes and let us know which you found to be the most successful. We’ve provided a few recipes below as a jumping off point, but don’t let these limit you; let your imagination run wild and see where it leads you. You may find a new, mind-blowing flavor combination that the world (or our Windhorse community, at least) needs to know about.

If you’re looking for places to buy the freshest, local produce then try one of area’s farmers’ markets. A list of local farmers’ markets was provided in our post from May of last year, which you may find here. We’ve checked and all of the days, times, and locations listed in that post are still accurate. And if you’re in need of delicious, high-quality meats and cheeses, the Valley has some great resources for that as well, including Sutter Meats in Northampton, Provisions in Northampton (primarily a wine and beer store but they also have a large cheese and charcuterie counter, as well as other interesting foodie items), River Valley Co-op in Northampton, and Corsello Butcheria in Easthampton.